Adjustable tricycle



Aug. 2, 1966 J. w. RYAN 3,264,0M

ADJUSTABLE TRICYCLE Filed Aug. 4, 1964 2 sneetsmm. 1

5 o /j @gn /f a! 'e F y 77 INVENTOR. .7S/w u/. Ef/m/ Aug. 2, 1966 J. w. RYAN ADJUSTABLE TRICYCLE 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Aug. 4. 1964 United States Patent C)` 3,264,011 ADJUSTABLE TRICYCLE `lohn W. Ryan, Bel Aire, Calif., assigner to Mattel, Inc., Hawthorne, Calif., a corporation of California Filed Aug. 4, 1964, Ser. No. 387,395

Claims. (Cl. 280-275) In general, the present invention relates t'o a tricycle. More particularly, it involves a versatile, sturdy tricycle having an .adjustable length and both an enlarged lbouncing laction and angular rocking motion.

Although la wide variety of tricycles has been known for many years, the usual tricycle construction has included a number of limitations which limited its usability and its play Value. One such limitation has been that in order to have the tricycle usable lby the child over a long period of time, it is necessary to have the distance between the tricycle seat and the pedals adjustable. Thus, when the child is younger, such distance may be short and Ias the child grows, the distance may be lengthened. However, such adjustability is normally achieved by mounting the seat fof the tricycle on a vertically extending rigid post which is adjustably connected to the frame of the tricycle. Thus, as the child grows, the position of the seat may be raised to compensate for such growth. However, such expedient has the disadvantage that the ybase formed by the three' wheels of the tricycle is ixed and as the seat is raised, the center lof gravity of the combination of the child `and the tricycle is also necessarily raised ,so that the tricycle is morev easily tipped over during play, Le., the'istability of the toy is reduced. Another limitation present in the usual tricycle construction is that the seat normally is mounted on the tricycle frame by the use of independent spring means which permit the seat to move up and down while the tricycle frame remains rigid. Thus, the bouncing action of the child while riding on the tricycle seat is quite limited in amplitude and unrelated to the size of the tricycle. Furthermore, such `bouncing :action cannot achieve any additional movement, such as the angular rocking motion present in a toy, such as a rocking horse.

Consequently, an object of the present invention is a versatile, sturdyrtricycle, which permits adjustment of the distance between the tricycle seat and pedals .and yet increases the stability of the tricycle when such distance is increased.

Another object of the present invention is .a tricyclewhich has a pivoted spring connection between the front and rear wheels of the tricycle which permits an increased amplitude -of bouncing action to the tricycle and permits relating the ride given by the tricycle to the size of the tricycle.

Still another object of the present invention is a tricycle having Ia pivoted spring connection between the front and rear wheels of the tricycle which permits an angular rocking motion of the tricycle when in use.

Still another object of the present invention is a pivoted spring connection which utilizes `a triangular cross section adjoining the pivot axis to give a 'high resistance to bending at that point.

Other .objects and advantages of the present invention will be readily apparent from the following description and drawings which illustrate a preferred exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

In general, the tricycle of the present invention involves a fron-t wheel assembly including at least one longitudinal rearwardly extending tube and a rear wheel assembly including a spring connection means adapted to adjustably secure the free end of the front wheel assembly tube to the rear wheel assembly. The spring connection means is also adapted to increase the softness of the ride as the length of the tricycle is increased and to permit angular motion of the front wheel assembly while controlling such .angular motion by displacement of the spring means.

In order to facilitate understanding of the present invention, reference will now be made to he appended drawings of a preferred specific embodiment of the present invention. Such drawings should not be construed as limiting the invention which is properly set forth in the appended claims.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a side elevation of the tricycle of the present invention shown in partial cross section.

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of FIG. 1 taken along the lines 2 2 of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of FIG. 1 taken along lines 3 3 of FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is a view similar to .a portion of FIG. 3 showing the movement of the tricycle when in use.

IFIG. 5 is a view similar to FIG. 1 also showing the motion of the tricycle when in use and its appearance when lengthened.

FIG. 6 is an enlarged perspective view of the spring connection portion of the present invention.

Although the present invention can be used advantageously on bicycles', bicycles, velocipedes, and other wheeled vehicles, it is shown for purposes of illustration but not of limitation as involving a tricycle 10 having an adjustable length and both an enlarged bouncing action and an angular rocking motion. Tricycle 10 comprises a front wheel assembly 11 .and a rear wheel assembly 30. The front wheel assembly 11 includes a front wheel 12 rotatably mounted between arms 13 of a yoke 14 and adapted to be rotated by pedals 15. Hollow stem 16 of the yoke 14 is rotatably received in a sleeve 17 and the stem 16 has handlebars 18 adjustably fixed thereto by a set screw 19. Mounted on the sleeve 17 and extending rearwardly therefrom is a longitudinal tube 20 whose free end 21 has a triangular cross-section. Preferably, a fender 22 is mounted on the yoke 14 above the front wheel 12.

The free end 21 of the front wheel .assembly tube 20 is pivotally and adjustably secured to the rear wheel assembly 30. The rear wheel vassembly 30 -includes a pair of rear wheels 31 rotatably mounted on the arms 32 of a U-shaped crossbar 33. On the shank 34 of the crossbar 33 is mounted a spring connection means 40 which is adapted to pivotally and adjustably secure the free end 21 of the front wheel assembly tube 20 to the rear wheel assembly 30. In addition, the spring connection means 40 is adapted to permit angular motion `of the front wheel assembly 11 with respect to the rear wheel .assembly 30 while controlling such angular motion by the displacement of spring means 80. Spring connection means 40` comprises a pair of spaced support arms 41 formed out of a vertical panel 42 having a circular flange 43 by which it is attached to the shank 34. Joined .along the top edge of the panel 42 and extending inwardly therefrom is a horizontal panel 44 so that the support arm 41 has an L-shaped lcross section over a major portion of i-ts length adjacent the shank 34.

Between the free ends 45 of the support arms 41 is pivotally connected a cradle plate 50 by means of a pair of pivot pins 46. The cradle plate 50 has a centrally located V-shaped groove 51 which is adapted to receive the triangular-shaped free end 21 of the front wheel assembly tube 20. Also, the cradle plate 50 has a spaced pair of recesses 52 separated by the groove 51 and having apertures 53 in their bottom. Cradle plate 50 also includes side anges 54 along each side of the cradle plate 50 to which the pivot pins 46 are rotatably attached. Adjoining the side flanges 54 is a downwardly extending front flange 55. Such construction of the cradle plate 50 with side anges 54 and front flange 55 produces a cradle plate 50 which is highly resistant to both longitudinal and lateral bending.

Clamping the free end 21 of the front wheel assembly tube 20 in the groove 51 of the cradle plate 50 is the first end 61 of a brace plate 60. Brace plate 60 is mounted on the cradle plate 50 by a pair of cradle plate bolts 62 which are welded to the brace plate 60 at their head and 'extend through the apertures 53 in the recesses 52 of the cradle plate 50 and joined to the 4cradle plate 50 by nuts 63. Thus, the exing of the recesses 52 in the cradle plate 50 produces a locking action on the bolt 62 and nut 63 to securely hold the tirst end 61 of the brace plate 60 to the cradle plate 50 and securely clamp the free end 21 of the front wheel assembly tube 20 therebetween. The

Vsecond end 64 of the brace plate 60 is connected to the horizontal plates 44 of the support arms 41 by a pair of support arm bolts 65 welded at their head end to the brace plate 60 and slidably received in holes 46 in the horizontal plates 44 of the support arms 41. The support arm bolts 65 are held in the holesv46 of the horizontal plates 44 by nuts 66. In addition, the second end 64 of the brace plate 60 is connected to the horizonta-l plates 44 of the support arms 41 by displaceable spring means 80 which control the angular motion of the front wheel assembly 11 with respect to the rear wheel assembly 30 by displacement thereof. The spring means 80 comprises coil springs 81 slidably received on :the bolts 65 and braced at their upper ends against the base plate 60 and at their lower ends against the support arms 41. The rst end of the brace plate 60 also includes upwardly extending side flanges 6 7 along each of its sides and an upwardly extending front flange 68 which is surmounted by a pair of slanted ears 69 adapted to support the front end 91 of the seat 90. Similar to the cradle plate 50, the brace plate side anges 67 and front ange 68 make the brace plate 60 highly resistant to both longitudinal and lateral bending. The second end 64 of the brace plate 60 includes a central ridge 70 formed by a pair of indentations 71 on opposite edges of the brace plate 60 and to which the heads of the bolts 65 are welded. The ridge 70 is adapted to support the rear end 92 of the seat 90 of the tricycle and in addition provides substantial resistance to longitudinal bending of the brace plate 60.

The tricycle of the present invention is operated in a manner substantially similar to the usual tricycle ex,

cept for advantageous features of the present invention. Thus, when the tricycle is to be rst used by the child, it can be adjusted to give the proper d-istance between the seat 90 and the pedals 15 merely by loosening the nuts 63 and adjusting the position of the free end 21 of the front wheel assembly tube 20 in the groove 51 of the cradle plate 50. Compare, for example, FIGS. 1 and 5. When the desired distance is attained, the nuts 63 may be merely reti-ghtened and because of the locking action of the recesses 52 in the cradle plate 50, a tight clamping action is maintained on the free end 21 of the front wheel assembly tube 20 by the cradle plate 50 and the brace plate 60. When the tricycle is used by the child, the spring connection 40 permits not only the usual bouncing action of the seat with respectto the frame due to the compression of the coil spring 81 between the brace plate 60 and the support arms 41, but also permits an additional bouncing action due to the rotation of the front wheel assembly 11 with respect to the rear wheel assembly 30 so that the frame of the tricycle as a whole moves downwardly while the child bounces on the seat. Thus, an increased amplitude of bounce is achieved. In addition, the rotation of the front wheel assembly 11 with respect to the rear wheel assembly 30 permits the rear wheel assembly 30 to move forward in an angular rocking motion during the bouncing action which is similar to the rocking motion achieved by a rocking horse. More important, the length or size of the tricycle is related to the kind of ride produced by the tricycle, i.e., the type of the ride is in effect dependent onthe size of the rider. Thus, as the length of the tricycle is increased, the softness of the ride is increased. Such effect is illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 5. Thus, in FIG. 1, the pivot pins 46 form a fulcrum a with front wheel assembly 11 forming one lever arm b and the brace plate 60 forming the other lever arm c. As illustrated in FIG. 5, the lever arm b is Llengthened by the lengthening of -the tricycle while the lever arm c remains xed in length. Consequently, when the tricycle rider engages in bouncing action the frequency of the bouncing action, i.e., the spring action, is decreased. Thus, for larger children, the longer tricycle gives a softer ride, while for smaller-children, a shorter tricycle gives a more stiff and -stable ride.

A change in the weight of a rider on tricycle 10 will produce a change in itssteering geometry. A young, light child will nd the steering very easy, while an older, heavier child will nd the steering harder. The hard steering has the advantage of greater stability for highspeed traveling which older children enjoy. Thus, in FIG. 1, the line bac and the phantom lines e-e and f-f represent the light load position of the associated parts with the wheel 12 in the solid line position. The phantom lines ba'c', g-'g and h--h represent the heavy load position of the associated parts with the wheel 12 in the phantom line position. X1 represents the height yoke 14 must rise for 90 of wheel turn under a light load, and Y1 represents the distance between the pivot point and road contact of wheel 12 under a light load. X2 represents the height yoke 14 must rise for 90 of wheel turn under a heavy load and Y2 represents the distance between the pivot point and road contact of wheel 12 under a heavy load. As can be seen in FIG. 1, X2 and Y2 are greater than X1 and Y1. Thus, steering is harder under a heavy load because yoke 14 must be raised higher for a turn and the pivot point and road contact do not coincide, resulting in a scraping action.

Many other specific embodiments of the present invention will be obvious to one skilled in the art in view of the present disclosure. Thus, for example, a variety of shapes may be utilized for the support arms, cradle plate and brace plate of the spring connection between the front wheel assembly and the rear wheel assembly of the tricycle, as well as a variety of spring connections. Also, for example, the coil spring 81 may be mounted below the support arms 41 so that the bouncing action causes it to be extended initial-ly, rather than compressed initially.

There are many features in the present invention which clearly show the significant advance it represents over the prior art. Consequently, only a few of the more outstanding features will be pointed out to illustrate the unexpected and unusual results attained by the present invention. One feature of the present invention is the vadjustability of the length of the tricycle so that the distance between the tricycle pedals and the tricycle seat may be varied to accommodate the childs growth. Yet, as such distance is increased, it lengthens the tricycle and the stability of the tricycle is actually increased since the center of gravity of the combination of the child and the tricycle `is not raised and the area enclosed by the front wheel and the two rear wheels is increased. In addition, such length adjustability feature permits easy replacement of a portion of the tricycle should it become severely damaged. Thus, for example, the front wheel assembly and the rear wheel assembly can be independently replaced merely by loosening a pair of bolts. Another feature of the present invention is the triangular crosssection of the free end of the front wheel assembly tube which adjoins the pivot axis of the pivot connection for the tricycle. Such structural features insure that the tricycle will have unusually high resistance to bending at the point where the greatest bending forces are applied.

Still another feature of the present invention is a pivoted spring connection between the front wheel assembly and the rear wheel assembly of the tricycle which permits increased amplitude of bouncing as well as an yangular rocking motion to the tricycle. Thus, not only does the child when using the tricycle have the bouncing action normally associated with seat springs, but also the tricycle frame as a whole moves with respect to the ground. In addition, unlike the usual prior art tricycle, in use, the present tricycle can achieve an angular rocking motion similar to the motion of a rocking horse.

It will be understood that the foregoing description and examples are onlyillustrative of the Vpresent invention and it is not intended that the invention be limited thereto. All substitutions, alterations and modifications of the present invention which come within the scope of the following claims or to which the present invention is readily susceptible, without departing from the spirit and scope of this disclosure are considered part of the present invention.

The word tricycle is used herein for convenience and is tdened to mean any velocipede or other wheeled vehicle which can incorporate the present invention.

What is claimed is:

1. A velocipede having an adjustable length and giving a ride related to the adjusted size of the velocipede cornprising:

a front wheel assembly including at least one longitudinal, rearwardly extending tube; and

a rear wheel assembly including spring connection means for selectively connecting said rear wheel assembly to `different positions along the length of said `front wheel assembly tube to increase or decrease the length of the velocipede, said spring connection means being constructed and arranged to increase the softness of the ride as the length of the velocipede is so increased.

2. A velocipede as stated in claim 1, wherein said spring connection means is adapted to pivotally secure said front wheel assembly tube to said rear wheel assembly and to permit angular motion of said front wheel Iassembly with respect to said rear wheel assembly while controlling said angular motion by the displacement of said spring connection means.

3. The velocipede as stated in claim 1 wherein said front wheel assembly tube has a triangular cross-section where it is connected to said rear wheel assembly.

4. A velocipede as called for in claim 1 wherein said front wheel assembly includes a wheel and at least one pedal for rotating said wheel to propel said velocipede and said rear wheel assembly includes a seat, the distance between said pedal and said seat being increased as the length of the velocipede is so increased.

5. A velocipede having an adjustable length and giving a ride related to the adjusted size of the velocipede comprising:

a front wheel assembly including at least one longitudinal, rearwardly extending tube; and

a rear wheel assembly including spring connection means adjustably connecting said front wheel assembly tube to said rear wheel assembly to increase the softness of the ride as the length of the velocipede is increased, said spring connection means is adapted to pivotally secure said front Wheel assembly tube to said rear wheel assembly and to permit angular motion of said front wheel assembly with respect to said rear wheel assembly while controlling said angular motion by the displacement of said spring connection means, said spring connection means comprises a pair of spaced support arms having a cradle plate pivotally connected therebetween adapted t0 support said front wheel assembly tube, a brace plate having a first end mounted on said cradle plate and clamping said tube to said cradle plate and having a second end connected to said support arms by displaceable spring means.

6. A velocipede as stated in claim 5 wherein said front wheel assembly tube includes a portion having a triangular cross-section and said cradle plate has a V-shaped groove adapted to receive said portion of said tube,

7. A velocipede as stated in claim 5 wherein a projection of the major axis of said front wheel assembly into a road surface substantially coincides with the point of contact of said front assembly with said road surface when a light child rides said velocipede and moves forwardly of said point of contact when a heavy child rides said velocipede.

8. A velocipede comprising:

a front wheel assembly including a tubular member having rst and second ends;

a yoke member having a stem vrotatably mounted in said first end of said tubular member, said yoke member including a pair of spaced, parallel arms depending from said stem;

a front wheel rotatably mounted between said arms;

and

a rear Wheel assembly including spring connection means for selectively connecting said rear wheel assembly to different positions along the length of said tubular member to increase or decrease the length of the velocipede, said spring -connection means being constructed and arranged to increase the softness of the ride as the length of the velocipede is so increased, said rear wheel assembly being pivotally connected to said tubular member near said second end in such a manner that a plane coinciding with the major axis of said yoke and a vertical plane passing through the rotatable mounting for said front wheel coincide at approximately the point where said wheel contacts a road surface when a light child rides said velocipede and do not coincide at said point when a heavy child rides said velocipede.

9. A tricycle comprising:

a front wheel assembly that includes a yoke assembly having parallel, spaced-apart arms depending from a stern;

a front wheel rotatably mounted between said arms;

a tube member having one end in which said stem is rotatably received;

a rear wheel assembly pivotally connected to the other end of said tube member to permit angular displacement of said front wheel with respect to said rear Wheel assembly; and

-spring means connected to said rear wheel assembly and to said tube member for controlling said angular displacement in such a manner that the major axis of said tube member will be inclined downwardly from a vhorizontal position and a plane coinciding with the major axis of said yoke will be displaced forwardly of a vertical plane passing through the point at which said front wheel is rotatably mounted when a child exceeding a predetermined weight rides said tricycle, whereby the pivot point and the road contact point for said front wheel ydo not coincide, said rear Wheel assembly being selectively connectible to different positions along the length of said tube Imember to increase or decrease the length of the tricycle, said spring connection means being constructed and arranged to increase the softness of the ride as t-he length of the tricycle is so increased.

10. A tricycle comprising:

a front wheel assembly including a front wheel adapted to contact a road surface, said front wheel assembly including frame means rotatably receiving said front wheel and a rearwardly extending tube;

a rear wheel assembly pivotally connected to said front wheel .assembly to permit angular displacement of said front wheel assembly with respect to said rear wheel assembly; and

spring means connected to said rear wheel assembly and said front Wheel assembly for controlling said angular displacement, whereby the projection of the major axis of said frame means and the vertical axis of said front wheel into the plane of said road surface intersect more approximately at said road surface when a light child rides said tricycle and become spaced relatively apart when a heavy 'child rides said tricycle, said rear Wheel assembly being selectively connectible to different positions along the length of said tube member to increase or decrease the length of the tricycle, said spring connection means being constructed and arranged to increase the softness of the ride as the length of the tricycle is so increased.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 514,782. 2/1884 Sherwood 280-287 Kiefer 280-275 Maypole 280-283 X Klatt 280-284 X Mackowiak 280-275 Riva 280-283 DuVall 280--287 X FOREIGN PATENTS France. Germany.

KENNETH H. BETTS, Primary Examiner. 

1. A VELOCIPEDE HAVING AN ADJUSTABLE LENGTH AND GIVING A RIDE RELATED TO THE ADJUSTED SIZE OF THE VELOCIPEDE COMPRISING: A FRONT WHEEL ASSEMBLY INCLUDING AT LEAST ONE LONGITUDINAL, REARWARDLY EXTENDING TUBE; AND A REAR WHEEL ASSEMBLY INCLUDING SPRING CONNECTION MEANS FOR SELECTIVELY CONNECTING SAID REAR WHEEL ASSEMBLY TO DIFFERENT POSITIONS ALONG THE LENGTH OF SAID FRONT WHEEL ASSEMBLY TUBE TO INCREASE OR DECREASE THE LENGTH OF THE VELOCIPEDE, SAID SPRING CONNECTION MEANS BEING CONSTRUCTED AND ARRANGED TO INCREASE THE SOFTNESS OF THE RIDE AS THE LENGTH OF THE VELOCIPEDE IS SO INCREASED. 